Political Leaders Sign Condolence Book Honouring Late Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Three Jamaican political leaders, including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Wednesday signed the condolence book honouring the life of the former Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who died of heart complications in his native island last month.

Apart from Holness, the other leaders signing the book at the regional headquarters of The University of the West Indies (UEWI) were Opposition Leader, Dr. Peter Phillips and former prime minister P.J. Patterson.

Arthur, 70, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 27 and his body will lie in state in Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown on Wednesday and Thursday.

“During this time, mourners will file past the closed casket, and sign the condolence books, which will be available on both days,” the Barbados government said, announcing also that he will be buried after a state funeral on Friday.

Arthur, an economist, served as prime minister on three occasions between September 1994 and January 2008. He was Leader of the Opposition in Barbados from 1 August 1993 to 6 September 1994; and from 23 October 2010 to 21 February 2013.

Arthur, who was also a professor at the UWI, leaves to mourn his wife and two children.

CMC